Heartbreak team radio: Lewis Hamilton apologises to Ferrari after Abu Dhabi Q1 knockout (audio). Lewis Hamilton continues to struggle in his first season with Ferrari.

Hamilton frustrated after P16 in Abu Dhabi qualifying: “Every time, I’m so sorry”

Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties in his debut season with Ferrari continued at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as the seven-time Formula 1 world champion was knocked out in Q1 and will start tomorrow’s race from 16th on the grid. The session added another chapter to a challenging season for the British driver, who has struggled to adapt to the SF-25’s handling and maximize its performance.

Another tough session for Hamilton

After Las Vegas and Qatar, Abu Dhabi marked the third consecutive race where Lewis Hamilton failed to make it past the first qualifying segment. His 16th fastest time was narrowly behind the Ferrari-powered Sauber of Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, missing out by just a few thousandths of a second. It was a stark reminder of how unforgiving Formula 1 can be, even for a driver of Lewis Hamilton’s experience.

Team radio captures the frustration

After the session, Lewis Hamilton’s radio message to his race engineer Riccardo Adami captured his disappointment perfectly: “Every time, mate. I’m really sorry.” The simple, emotional remark highlighted how challenging the season has been for Lewis Hamilton, who has been struggling to extract the potential from the Ferrari and adapt to its unique characteristics.

Looking ahead to the race

Starting from 16th, Lewis Hamilton faces a difficult challenge in Abu Dhabi. The final race of his first year in red is not only a test of skill but also of patience and strategy. With limited opportunities to score points from the back of the grid, the focus for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari will be on minimizing losses while ending the season on a decent note. Any improvement during the race could at least provide a small morale boost for the British driver heading into the 2026 season.